JP2020083170A - Control device for light control glass - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress the deterioration of fuel economy while appropriately adjusting a temperature in a vehicle cabin by controlling the amount of heat input into the vehicle cabin due to solar radiation, in a control device for light control glass mounted on a vehicle.SOLUTION: There is provided a control device for light control glass which is switched from a dark color state to a transparent state by turning on voltage. The control device includes: a determination section (S1) for determining whether heat input into a vehicle cabin is necessary or not; a prediction section (S3) for predicting an integrated amount IHI of heat input on the basis of the transition of an amount Src of solar radiation acquired from a cloud server; and an acquisition section (S4) for acquiring a necessary amount NHI of heat input which is necessary to make a temperature difference between an in-cabin temperature Ti and a target in-cabin temperature Tt equal to or less than a prescribed value PV. In a case where the integrated amount IHI of heat input reaches the necessary amount NHI of heat input even in the dark color state, or in a case where the amount of solar radiation heat input is smaller than power consumed by turning on the voltage, the voltage to the light control glass is turned off. On the other hand, in any other case, the voltage to the light control glass is turned on until the integrated amount IHI of heat input reaches the necessary amount NHI of heat input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a light control glass control device mounted on a vehicle provided with light control glass as a window glass.

In a vehicle equipped with a light control glass that switches from a low light transmission state to a high light transmission window by applying a voltage as a window glass, it has been conventionally performed to control the light transmission rate of the light control glass according to the amount of solar radiation. ing.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when the solar radiation sensor determines that it is daytime, an electric motor that adjusts the transmittance of the light control glass by the control unit based on the difference between the set temperature during heating and the vehicle interior temperature. An air conditioning control device for a vehicle is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-144752

According to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when raising the temperature in the vehicle compartment, for example, the transmittance of the light control glass is increased, sunlight is introduced into the vehicle compartment to increase the sensible temperature, and the temperature in the vehicle compartment is increased. It is said that power consumption can be suppressed by supplementing the temperature.

However, the control method or the control device that adjusts the transmittance of the light control glass by using the solar radiation sensor like the one of Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

That is, since the solar radiation sensor can only detect the current (at the time of detection) amount of solar radiation, it is difficult to predict the amount of solar radiation or the sunshine duration (transition of the amount of solar radiation) after the time of detection. Therefore, in light of the transition of the amount of solar radiation, for example, even when the light transmittance of the light control glass is low, even if it is possible to sufficiently secure the amount of heat input to the vehicle interior due to solar radiation, the voltage is applied to the light control glass. There is a problem in that wasteful power is consumed by applying the voltage and fuel efficiency deteriorates.

Further, for example, when a voltage is applied to make the light control glass have a high light transmittance, and when the set temperature during heating reaches the vehicle interior temperature, the voltage application is terminated and the light control glass is made to have a light transmittance. Even if the temperature is low, it is possible that the temperature in the vehicle interior becomes higher than expected due to heat input in the state where the light transmittance is low thereafter. In this case, it is necessary to cool the inside of the vehicle, even when the vehicle is being heated, so that there is a problem that the fuel efficiency is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and an object of the present invention is to control the amount of heat input to the vehicle interior by solar radiation in a light control glass control device mounted on a vehicle equipped with light control glass. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for suppressing the deterioration of fuel efficiency while appropriately adjusting the temperature inside the vehicle compartment.

In order to achieve the above object, the light control glass control device according to the present invention controls ON/OFF of the voltage to the light control glass according to the transition of the amount of solar radiation acquired from the cloud server.

Specifically, the present invention is directed to a light control glass control device mounted on a vehicle that includes, as the window glass, light control glass that switches from a low light transmittance state to a high light transmittance state by applying a voltage.

Then, this light control glass control device determines, based on the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature, whether or not heat input to the vehicle interior is necessary, and When it is determined that heat is required, based on the transition of the amount of solar radiation obtained from the cloud server, predict the accumulated heat input to the vehicle interior due to solar radiation according to the time elapsed since it was determined that heat input was required Prediction unit, which is required to keep the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature, which is calculated based on the vehicle interior temperature, the target vehicle interior temperature and the outside air temperature, below a predetermined value. If the integrated heat input reaches the required heat input by a predetermined time after it is determined that heat input is necessary, even if the light transmittance of the light control glass is low, including an acquisition unit that acquires the required heat input. , Or, if the amount of heat input into the vehicle interior due to solar radiation is smaller than the power consumption for making the light transmittance of the light control glass high, while not applying a voltage to the light control glass, otherwise In this case, a voltage is applied to the light control glass until the integrated heat input reaches the required heat input.

According to this configuration, the voltage is applied to the light control glass on the assumption that the determination unit determines that heat input is necessary. In other words, when it is determined that heat input is not necessary ( For example, during cooling), no voltage is applied to the light control glass, so that it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption due to positive intake of sunlight during cooling.

Then, even if (A) the light transmittance of the light control glass is low, if the predicted integrated heat input amount reaches the required heat input amount, in other words, even if the light transmittance is low, it enters the vehicle interior due to solar radiation. If a sufficient heat input amount can be ensured, no voltage is applied to the light control glass even if the determination unit determines that heat input is necessary, and thus wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

(B) When the amount of heat input into the vehicle compartment due to sunlight, such as cloudy weather or nighttime, is smaller than the power consumption for keeping the light transmittance of the light control glass high, the heat input is determined by the determination unit. Even if it is determined that the above condition is necessary, no voltage is applied to the light control glass, so inefficient power consumption can be suppressed.

On the other hand, in cases other than (A) or (B), a voltage is applied to the light control glass so that the light control glass has a high light transmittance, so that the sunlight is positively taken into the vehicle. It is possible to raise the temperature in the room, and thereby, while appropriately adjusting the temperature in the vehicle compartment, it is possible to reduce power during heating and improve fuel efficiency. Moreover, since the voltage is applied to the light control glass until the integrated heat input reaches the required heat input, in other words, when the integrated heat input reaches the required heat input, the application of the voltage to the light control glass ends. As a result, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the vehicle interior from becoming higher than expected, and thus it is possible to prevent the fuel economy from deteriorating due to cooling the vehicle interior.

As described above, according to the light control glass control device of the present invention, by controlling the amount of heat input into the vehicle interior due to solar radiation, while appropriately adjusting the temperature of the vehicle interior, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of fuel efficiency. You can

It is a figure which shows typically the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows typically a roof window glass, the figure (a) shows a dark color state, and the figure (b) shows a transparent state. It is a control map figure which shows typically the relationship between the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature, and the required heat input. It is a graph which shows an example of the time transition of an integrated heat input. It is a graph which shows an example of the time transition of an integrated heat input. It is a flow chart which shows an example of light control glass control.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

-Overall structure of vehicle-
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. In this vehicle 1, a roof window glass 3 constitutes a part of a vehicle body roof 5 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 includes an ECU (Electric Control Unit) 10, a room temperature sensor 11, an outside air temperature sensor 13, a solar radiation sensor 15, an operation panel 17, a GPS device 20, and a network access device 30. And are equipped with.

The ECU 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which programs and maps executed by the CPU are stored in advance, a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which the CPU temporarily stores data when necessary, It includes a so-called microcomputer provided with a backup RAM or the like that retains data even while the power is cut off. The CPU executes various controls of the vehicle 1 by utilizing the temporary storage function of the RAM and performing signal processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM.

The ECU 10 has a signal indicating a temperature (hereinafter, also referred to as “vehicle interior temperature”) Ti in the vehicle interior 7 (see FIG. 2) Ti detected by a room temperature sensor 11 installed near a driver's seat or a front grill. (Not shown) A signal representing the outside air temperature To detected by the outside air temperature sensor 13 mounted on the periphery or the like, and an insolation amount Srs detected by the insolation sensor 15 arranged on an instrument panel (not shown) or the like. Signals and the like that represent each are input. Further, a signal representing the target vehicle interior temperature Tt set by the occupant by operating the operation panel 17 is also input to the ECU 10. Further, the ECU 10 is adapted to receive current position information of the vehicle 1 from a GPS device 20 which communicates with a GPS artificial satellite to acquire various information such as surrounding conditions and position information of the vehicle 1.

The network access device 30 is configured to be able to communicate with an external server such as the cloud server 40, a network access device mounted on another vehicle 60, or the like via a communication network such as a mobile phone network or the Internet network. The network access device 30 is connected to the ECU 10, whereby information acquired by the network access device 30 from the cloud server 40, the server of the operation center 50, the network access device of another vehicle 60, or the like is input to the ECU 10. At the same time, information acquired by the ECU 10 from various sensors and the GPS device 20 is transmitted to the server of the operation center 50 via the network access device 30.

For example, when the vehicle 1 is parked, when the current location (parking position) information of the vehicle 1 input from the GPS device 20 to the ECU 10 is transmitted to the cloud server 40 via the network access device 30, the cloud server 40. Therefore, the weather information (transition of the amount of solar radiation Src, etc.) in the area where the vehicle 1 is parked is input to the ECU 10 via the network access device 30.

Further, for example, if an occupant who is away from the parked vehicle 1 transmits the departure time to the server of the operation center 50 using the smartphone 70 or the like, the occupant of the operation center 50 parks the vehicle via the network access device 30. The departure time and the like are input to the ECU 10 of the running vehicle 1.

Furthermore, the ECU 10 reads the vehicle interior temperature of the other vehicle 60 from the network access device of the other vehicle 60 running around the vehicle 1 or the server of the operation center 50, etc. It is configured to calculate "comfortable vehicle interior temperature Ttc" and to obtain "comfortable vehicle interior temperature Ttc" from a server or the like of the operation center 50.

-Light control glass-
FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the roof window glass 3, where FIG. 2(a) shows a dark color state and FIG. 2(b) shows a transparent state. In the vehicle 1, as the roof window glass 3, a light control glass 3 that is switched from a state of low light transmittance to a state of high light transmittance by applying a voltage is used. More specifically, when the voltage is not applied to the light control glass 3, as shown in FIG. 2A, the light control glass 3 is in a dark color state (a state where the light transmittance is low), while the voltage is applied. 2B, as shown in FIG. 2B, the transparent state (high light transmittance) is obtained. In the following, not applying a voltage to the light control glass 3 is also referred to as “turning off the voltage”, and applying a voltage to the light control glass 3 is also referred to as “turning on the voltage”.

In the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, the ECU 10 executes switching between the dark color state and the transparent state of the roof window glass 3. In this way, the ECU 10 switches the roof window glass 3 between the dark color state and the transparent state, whereby it is possible to suppress deterioration of fuel consumption in the vehicle 1. For example, when cooling the roof windshield 3 in a dark state as shown in FIG. 2A during cooling on a sunny day, the amount of heat input into the vehicle interior 7 by solar radiation (hereinafter also referred to as the amount of solar heat input). .) is reduced, and the power required for cooling is reduced accordingly, so that deterioration of fuel efficiency can be suppressed. Further, for example, when heating the roof on a sunny day, as shown in FIG. 2B, if the roof window glass 3 is in a transparent state, the heat input into the vehicle compartment 7 due to solar radiation is positively taken in, and that amount Since the power required for heating is reduced, the deterioration of fuel efficiency can be suppressed.

-Light control glass control-
Next, the dimming glass control executed by the ECU 10 will be described. Prior to that, the conventional dimming glass control will be described in order to make the present invention easier to understand.

Similar to the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, in the conventional vehicle including the solar radiation sensor, when the solar radiation sensor determines that it is daytime, based on the difference between the set temperature during heating and the vehicle interior temperature, There is a control for adjusting the transmittance of the light control glass.

However, since the solar radiation sensor can detect only the present (at the time of detection) the amount of solar radiation, it is difficult to predict the amount of solar radiation and the sunshine duration (transition of the amount of solar radiation) after the time of detection. Therefore, in light of the change in the amount of solar radiation, by turning on the voltage to the light control glass, for example, even when the amount of heat input to the vehicle interior by the sunlight can be sufficiently secured even in the dark state of the light control glass. In some cases, wasteful power is consumed and fuel efficiency deteriorates.

In addition, when the voltage is turned on, the light control glass is made transparent, and when the set temperature during heating reaches the cabin temperature, even if the voltage is turned off and the light control glass is put in the dark color state, heat input in the dark state thereafter. As a result, the temperature inside the vehicle may be higher than expected. In this case, it is necessary to cool the inside of the vehicle, even when the vehicle is being heated, so that the fuel efficiency may deteriorate.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the voltage ON/OFF to the light control glass 3 is controlled according to the transition of the solar radiation amount Src acquired from the cloud server 40.

Specifically, (1) it is determined whether or not heat input into the vehicle interior 7 is necessary based on the temperature difference ΔT between the vehicle interior temperature Ti and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt, and (2) heat input When it is determined to be necessary (affirmative determination), based on the transition of the solar radiation amount Src acquired from the cloud server 40, the accumulated heat input into the vehicle interior 7 due to solar radiation according to the elapsed time from the positive determination The ECU 10 is configured to predict the IHI and (3) acquire the necessary heat input amount NHI required to make the temperature difference ΔT equal to or less than the predetermined value PV.

Then, even when (4-1) the light control glass 3 is in the dark color state, when the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI by the predetermined time PT from the positive determination, or (4-2) Solar radiation When the amount of heat is smaller than the power consumption for making the light control glass 3 in the transparent state, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off, and (5) in other cases, the integrated heat input IHI The ECU 10 is configured to turn on the voltage to the light control glass 3 until the required heat input amount NHI is reached.

Hereinafter, such control will be described in detail. Note that the following description will be made assuming that the vehicle 1 is parked.

First, when the ECU 10 determines that the vehicle 1 is parked based on a signal from a start switch (not shown) or the like, the ECU 10 determines (1) a temperature difference ΔT between the vehicle interior temperature Ti and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt. Based on this, it is determined whether heat input into the vehicle interior 7 is necessary. Specifically, the ECU 10 determines that the temperature difference ΔT between the vehicle interior temperature Ti detected by the room temperature sensor 11 and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt set by the occupant is ΔT (=target vehicle interior temperature Tt−vehicle interior temperature Ti). If <0, it is determined that cooling is being performed and heat input into the passenger compartment 7 is not necessary (negative determination). In this case, the ECU 10 turns off the voltage to the light control glass 3 and puts the light control glass 3 in a dark color state during driving or stopping (including parking). As a result, the amount of solar heat input is reduced, and the power required for cooling is reduced by that amount, so that deterioration of fuel efficiency can be suppressed.

On the other hand, the ECU 10 determines that the temperature difference ΔT between the vehicle interior temperature Ti and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt is ΔT (=target vehicle interior temperature Tt-vehicle interior temperature Ti)≧set value A (A is 0 or a positive number). ), it is determined that it is during heating and that heat input into the passenger compartment 7 is necessary (affirmative determination). For example, when the set value A is set to 0, the ECU 10 makes a positive determination if the target vehicle interior temperature Tt≧the vehicle interior temperature Ti. Further, from the viewpoint of hunting prevention, when the set value A is set to a positive number, if the vehicle interior temperature Ti is lower than the target vehicle interior temperature Tt by A or more, it means that the vehicle is heating and the interior of the vehicle interior 7 is Determines that heat input is required (affirmative determination).

The target vehicle interior temperature Tt is not limited to the one set by the occupant by operating the operation panel 17, but is calculated based on the vehicle interior temperature of another vehicle 60 running around the vehicle 1, for example. The "comfortable vehicle interior temperature Ttc" in the area where the vehicle 1 is present may be adopted.

Next, in the case of (2) affirmative determination, the ECU 10 moves the inside of the vehicle compartment 7 by solar radiation according to the elapsed time from the affirmative determination based on the transition of the solar radiation amount Src acquired from the cloud server 40. The integrated heat input amount IHI, which is the integrated value of the heat input amount, is predicted. Specifically, the ECU 10 transmits the current location (parking position) information of the vehicle 1 input from the GPS device 20 to the cloud server 40 via the network access device 30, and the cloud server 40 sends the current location of the vehicle 1 to the cloud server 40. The weather information (transition of the amount of solar radiation Src) in is acquired through the network access device 30.

However, when the current position (parking position) of the vehicle 1 is an indoor parking lot, underground, or the like, it is meaningless to predict the integrated heat input amount IHI. Therefore, the ECU 10 determines that the current solar radiation obtained from the cloud server 40 is present. The amount Src and the amount of solar radiation Srs detected by the solar radiation sensor 15 are compared. If the difference between the two is relatively large, it is determined that the current position of the vehicle 1 is indoors or the like, and the integrated heat input amount IHI is predicted. Then, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off.

On the other hand, when the difference between the solar radiation amount Src and the solar radiation amount Srs is relatively small, in other words, when it is determined that the current location of the vehicle 1 is outdoors, the ECU 10 determines that the solar radiation amount acquired from the cloud server 40. Based on the transition of Src, the integrated heat input amount IHI according to the elapsed time from the positive determination is predicted (calculated) for each of the dark color state and the transparent state of the light control glass 3 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). ..

Next, the ECU 10 obtains (3) the necessary heat input amount NHI required to make the temperature difference ΔT equal to or less than the predetermined value PV. Specifically, the ECU 10 uses a control map diagram that schematically shows the relationship between the temperature difference ΔT and the required heat input amount NHI as shown in FIG. 3, and uses the vehicle interior temperature Ti, the outside air temperature To, and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt. Based on and, the required heat input amount NHI is acquired.

When the control map diagram shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the ROM, the ECU 10 causes the vehicle interior temperature Ti detected by the room temperature sensor 11, the outside air temperature To detected by the outside air temperature sensor 13, and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt. The required heat input amount NHI is calculated (acquired) based on For example, when the vehicle interior temperature Ti is 20 (° C.), the target vehicle interior temperature Tt is 25 (° C.), and the outside air temperature To is 10 (° C.), the predetermined value PV is set to 0. From the control map diagram, it is calculated that the necessary heat input amount NHI required to set the temperature difference ΔT=5 (° C.) to the predetermined value PV=0 is 30,000 (kJ).

On the other hand, when the control map diagram shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the server of the operation center 50, the ECU 10 determines the vehicle interior temperature Ti, the outside air temperature To, and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt via the network access device 30. The required heat input amount NHI calculated by the server of the operation center 50 may be received (obtained) via the network access device 30. By doing so, the electric power of the vehicle used for the calculation can be saved.

Even when the required heat input amount NHI is acquired in this manner, the "comfortable vehicle interior temperature Ttc" in the area where the vehicle 1 is present may be used as the target vehicle interior temperature Tt. Further, the predetermined value PV does not have to be 0, and the predetermined value PV may be set so that when the required heat input amount NHI is obtained, the target vehicle interior temperature Tt−the vehicle interior temperature Ti=PV. ..

FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the time transition of the integrated heat input amount IHI when parked from 9:00, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of the time transition of the integrated heat input amount IHI when parked from 15:00. It is a figure. Even if the (4-1) light control glass 3 is in a dark state, the ECU 10 turns off the voltage when the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI by the predetermined time PT from the positive determination. The predetermined time PT is, for example, an estimated time when the occupant is away from the parked vehicle 1 and the like, and can be set by the occupant by operating the operation panel 17 or the like.

For example, when the vehicle is parked from 9 o'clock, if the light control glass 3 is made transparent by turning on the voltage, the sunlight is positively taken in, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. The integrated heat input amount IHI can reach the required heat input amount NHI. However, even if the light control glass 3 is brought into the dark color state by the voltage OFF, the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI at 12 o'clock after 3 hours, as shown by the broken line in FIG. Therefore, when the predetermined time PT is set to, for example, 6 hours, the vehicle interior temperature Ti is set to the target vehicle interior temperature by the time the occupant who has left the parked vehicle 1 returns to the vehicle 1 even when the voltage is OFF. It becomes possible to approach the temperature Tt. As described above, the ECU 10 does not apply a voltage to the light control glass 3 even if it determines that the heat input is necessary, even if it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of solar heat input even in the dark state. Power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, the ECU 10 also turns off the voltage to the light control glass 3 even when the (4-2) amount of solar heat input is smaller than the power consumption for making the light control glass 3 in the transparent state. For example, when the amount of solar radiation heat input is smaller than the power consumption for making the light control glass 3 transparent, such as in cloudy weather or at night, efficient heat input can be expected even if the light control glass 3 is made transparent. Absent. Therefore, the ECU 10 compares the amount of solar radiation heat with the power consumption (for example, 1.1 (W/m ² )) for making the light control glass 3 in the transparent state, and the amount of solar radiation heat is 1.1. If it is less than (W/m ² ), no voltage is applied to the light control glass 3 even if it is determined that heat input is necessary, so inefficient power consumption can be suppressed. In this case, the vehicle interior temperature Ti cannot be brought close to the target vehicle interior temperature Tt while the vehicle is parked, but the vehicle power for which the inefficient power consumption is suppressed is supplied to the air conditioner after the vehicle 1 starts. It can be used for heating (not shown).

Then, in the case other than (4-1) and (4-2), the ECU 10 turns on the voltage to the light control glass 3 until (5) the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI. To Specifically, the ECU 10 turns on the voltage to the light control glass 3 in the cases other than (4-1) and (4-2), and as shown in FIG. 4, the integrated heat input amount IHI (FIG. 4). Solid line) calculates the time (voltage ON time) for reaching the required heat input amount NHI (30000 (kJ) in FIG. 4), and after continuing the voltage ON state for the voltage ON time, the voltage to the light control glass 3 Turn off. The voltage ON time may be calculated by the server of the operation center 50, and the calculation of the voltage ON time may be received (obtained) via the network access device 30. By doing so, the electric power of the vehicle used for the calculation can be saved.

For example, when the vehicle is parked from 15:00 and the light control glass 3 is brought into the dark color state by the voltage OFF, the integrated heat input amount IHI is required within a predetermined time PT (for example, 6 hours) as shown by the broken line in FIG. Although the heat input amount NHI is not reached, if the light control glass 3 is made transparent by turning on the voltage, sunlight is positively taken in, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. In the half hour, the integrated heat input amount IHI can reach the required heat input amount NHI.

As described above, in the cases other than (4-1) and (4-2), the light control glass 3 is brought into the transparent state by the voltage ON, so that the sunlight is positively taken in to raise the vehicle interior temperature Ti. As a result, it is possible to reduce power during heating and improve fuel efficiency while appropriately adjusting the vehicle interior temperature Ti.

Here, when the predetermined value PV which is a calculation element of the required heat input amount NHI is set to 0, when the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI, the target vehicle interior temperature Tt and the vehicle interior temperature Ti match. Will be done. However, even if the voltage is turned off after the voltage ON time has passed and the light control glass 3 is brought into a dark color state, depending on the transition of the solar radiation amount Src, heat input in the dark color state may cause the vehicle interior temperature Ti to become higher than expected. is there.

In this respect, the predetermined value PV does not have to be 0 as described above. Therefore, if the predetermined value PV is set in anticipation of an increase in the integrated heat input amount IHI in the dark state of the light control glass 3, the voltage will be maintained for the voltage ON time. By continuing the ON state, even if the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI, the vehicle interior temperature Ti can be set to a state lower than the target vehicle interior temperature Tt by the predetermined value PV. Then, after that (after the voltage is turned off), the vehicle interior temperature Ti can be brought closer to the target vehicle interior temperature Tt by the increase amount of the integrated heat input IHI in the dark state of the light control glass 3, so that the vehicle interior The temperature Ti can be adjusted appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vehicle interior temperature Ti from becoming higher than expected and to prevent the fuel consumption from being deteriorated by cooling the interior of the vehicle compartment 7.

In addition, as described above, the occupant who is away from the parked vehicle 1 departs from the smartphone of the operation center 50 to the server of the fact that the departure time is early (for example, changed from 6 hours to 2 hours later). When the time is transmitted, the departure time and the like are input to the ECU 10 and the predetermined time PT is overwritten. In this case, for example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI after 3 hours even in the dark state, but within the predetermined time PT (2 hours), the integrated heat input amount Since the IHI does not reach the required heat input amount NHI, the voltage may be turned on and the light control glass 3 may be made transparent so that the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI after 2 hours.

-Control flow-
Next, an example of the light control glass control executed by the ECU 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It should be noted that this control flow is started, for example, when the vehicle 1 is parked or when the deviation between the vehicle interior temperature Ti and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt becomes relatively large while the vehicle 1 is traveling. Is configured.

First, in step S1, the ECU 10 determines whether heat input into the vehicle interior 7 is necessary. Specifically, the ECU 10 determines a temperature difference ΔT (=Tt−Ti) between the vehicle interior temperature Ti detected by the room temperature sensor 11 and the target vehicle interior temperature Tt set by the occupant or acquired from the server or the like of the operation center 50. For example, if ΔT≧0, it is determined that heating is in progress and heat input to the vehicle interior 7 is necessary (affirmative determination), whereas if ΔT<0, it is determined that cooling is in progress and heat input to the vehicle interior 7 is unnecessary ( Make a negative decision). When the determination in step S1 is NO, that is, when a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S10, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off, and then END is performed. On the other hand, if the determination in step S1 is YES, the process proceeds to step S2.

In the next step S2, the ECU 10 determines whether the current location of the vehicle 1 is outdoors. Specifically, the ECU 10 compares the current solar radiation amount Src acquired from the cloud server 40 with the solar radiation amount Srs detected by the solar radiation sensor 15, and if the difference between the two is relatively small, While it is determined that the current location is outdoors, if the difference between the two is relatively large, it is determined that the current location of the vehicle 1 is indoors or underground. If the determination in step S2 is NO, that is, if the current location of the vehicle 1 is not outdoors, the process proceeds to step S10, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off, and then END is performed. On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is yes, the process proceeds to step S3.

In the next step S3, the ECU 10 predicts the integrated heat input amount IHI. Specifically, the ECU 10 determines, based on the transition of the solar radiation amount Src acquired from the cloud server 40, the cumulative heat input amount IHI into the vehicle interior 7 due to the solar radiation in accordance with the elapsed time from the positive determination in step S1. After calculating, the process proceeds to step S4.

In the next step S4, the ECU 10 acquires the required heat input amount NHI. Specifically, the ECU 10 transmits the vehicle interior temperature Ti, the target vehicle interior temperature Tt, and the outside air temperature To detected by the outside air temperature sensor 13 via the network access device 30, and is calculated by the server of the operation center 50. After acquiring the required heat input amount NHI via the network access device 30, the process proceeds to step S5.

In the next step S5, the ECU 10 calculates the integrated heat input amount by the predetermined time PT even when the light control glass 3 is in the dark state, based on the integrated heat input amount IHI predicted in step S3 and the required heat input amount NHI acquired in step S4. It is determined whether IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI. If the determination in step S5 is YES, that is, if the amount of solar radiation heat can be sufficiently secured even in the dark state, the process proceeds to step S10, and after turning off the voltage to the light control glass 3, END. On the other hand, if the determination in step S5 is no, the process proceeds to step S6.

In the next step S6, the ECU 10 determines whether or not the amount of solar radiation heat input is at least the power consumption for making the light control glass 3 in the transparent state. If the determination in step S6 is no, the process proceeds to step S10, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off, and then END is performed. On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is yes, the process proceeds to step S7.

In the next step S7, the ECU 10 turns on the voltage to the light control glass 3, and then proceeds to step S8 to calculate the voltage ON time which is the time until the integrated heat input amount IHI reaches the required heat input amount NHI. , And then proceeds to step S9.

In the next step S9, the ECU 10 determines whether or not the voltage ON time has elapsed. The determination in step S9 is repeated until YES. If the determination in step S9 is YES, the process proceeds to step S10, the voltage to the light control glass 3 is turned off, and then END is performed.

In the embodiment described above, the ECU 10 corresponds to one that realizes the function of each element described in the claims. More specifically, step S1 corresponds to the "determination unit that determines whether or not heat input to the vehicle interior is necessary based on the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature". ing. In addition, in step S3 described in the claims, "elapsed time after heat input is determined to be necessary based on the transition of the amount of solar radiation acquired from the cloud server when heat input is determined by the determination unit. It corresponds to the "prediction unit that predicts the integrated heat input into the vehicle according to the above." Further, step S4 sets the temperature difference between the temperature inside the vehicle interior and the target vehicle interior temperature calculated based on the temperature inside the vehicle interior, the target vehicle interior temperature, and the outside air temperature to a predetermined value or less. It corresponds to the “acquisition unit that acquires the necessary heat input amount”.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof.

Although the present invention is applied to the roof window glass 3 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to front window glass, rear window glass, and side window glass.

As described above, the above embodiments are merely examples in all respects, and should not be limitedly interpreted. Furthermore, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, by controlling the amount of heat input into the vehicle interior due to solar radiation, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of fuel efficiency while appropriately adjusting the temperature inside the vehicle interior, so that the vehicle is equipped with a light control glass. It is extremely useful when applied to a light control glass control device.

1 Vehicle 3 Roof window glass (light control glass)
7 Cabin 10 ECU (Light control glass control device)
40 Cloud server IHI Integrated heat input NHI Required heat input PT Predetermined time PV Predetermined value S1 Judgment unit S3 Prediction unit S4 Acquisition unit Src Solar radiation amount Ti Vehicle interior temperature To Outside air temperature Tt Target vehicle interior temperature ΔT Temperature difference

Claims (1)

As a window glass, a light control glass control device mounted on a vehicle equipped with a light control glass that switches from a state where the light transmittance is low to a high state by applying a voltage,
Based on the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature, a determination unit that determines whether heat input into the vehicle interior is necessary,
When it is determined that heat input is required by the determination unit, based on the transition of the amount of solar radiation acquired from the cloud server, according to the elapsed time from when it is determined that heat input is required, A prediction unit that predicts the integrated heat input,
Obtains the necessary heat input required to keep the temperature difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature, which is calculated based on the vehicle interior temperature, the target vehicle interior temperature, and the outside air temperature, below a predetermined value. And an acquisition unit that
Even when the light transmittance of the light control glass is low, if the integrated heat input amount reaches the required heat input amount by a predetermined time after it is determined that heat input is necessary, or the heat input amount into the vehicle interior by solar radiation, If less than the power consumption for making the light transmittance of the light control glass high, while not applying a voltage to the light control glass, in other cases, the integrated heat input to the required heat input A light control glass control device, characterized in that a voltage is applied to the light control glass until reaching the light control glass.

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